Worth reloading for .223 AK?

[Sutro]

Is it worth the bother to reload for an AK? Issue is whether it's worth the bother to reload AK ammo that's easily available. I've been given to understand that the AK is pretty rough on brass (so far I've stuck with steel-cased and thus pretty much unreloadable ammo).

With the 5.45, future sources are unknown, so reloading may make more sense no matter how much of a bother it may be.

Opinions?

[JA]

For the .223 I would say yes. But the only problem I have found is that the rims get battered pretty good after about the 3rd reloading. Some cases give trouble when going into the shell plate/holder because of the burrs/bent out of shape rims caused by the aggressive exstration. This is not much of a problem with a single stage press but really throws a monkey wrench in the works of a progressive reloader. I use a Lee Pro 1000 for loading .223 so I only load brass fired in a AK rifle twice. I just leave the brass lay where it lands when firing the twice loaded ammo. I can save $30-$40 per 1000 over Wolf by reloading.
My Lee Pro 1000 loads 7.62x39mm easily but there are no cheap 7.62x39mm surplus boxer primed brass so it is not cost effective,field exspedent, or justfiable.
I form 5.45x39mm cases from new 222 Remington brass and resize .224" bullets to .221". The RCBS die set was $89.95 and Lee bullet lube/size die was $25 . So it is not CE-FE-J but with a dozen "Exsperts" on this board saying it couldn't be done.
So with the gaulet had been thrown down I had to rise to the chalenge.

[Chuck_H]

Save 30-40 dollars reloading .223's over the price of Wolf?
Where are you getting your supplies at?
i buy IMI bullets from widener's at 37.00K,primers at 15.00K, and surplus powder at gibrass.com is about 80.00 shipped, i'm looking at 90.00 and centerfire systems just sold me 3 cases of wolf for 85.99k.

[JA]

I get my componets at gunshows and advertisements in the newspaper.
Primers are $13.50 per K at gunshows and I ran into the AA-2200 data powder for $65 a jug at a gunshow last year.
I have really run into some good deals from ads in the newspaper. Whenever you see a ad for a reloading press/tools there is usally a half dozen boxes of bullets,several pounds of powder,and a several boxes of different sizes of primers that they are wanting to sell also. The best deals I have gotten are from widows.
99% of widows are more than happy to get 50 cents on the dollar for there departed husbands reloading stuff. About half are tickled pink to get rid of the exsplosive stuff and get it out of their garage i.e. gunpowder and primers and throw it in for free.